The cans compliment the Californian winemakers’ 750ml wine bottles, which include Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé, Pinot Grigio, Red Blend and Merlot, and will be sold individually ($4.99 each).
18 month shelf-life
Andrea Brambila, winemaker, AVA Grace Vineyards, said the cans are the perfect complement for summer concerts, beach bonfires and dining alfresco.
Wine in a can has a shelf life of 15-18 months, according to WineSociety and claims 98% of consumer purchased wine is consumed within 72 hours.
“I am excited to bring our Rosé and Pinot Grigio into cans with innovative packaging and great flavor,” she said.
WineSociety based in California was launched by husband and wife Austin and Angela Allison, this month to reinvent the idea that the wine industry is complex, impractical and expensive.
Instead, it wants to rewrite the ‘rules’ showing that wine can be easy to understand and attractive to the next generation of consumers (millennials) and modernized to suit people’s lifestyles.
“Our mission is simple,” said Angela, CEO and Co-Founder, WineSociety. “We want to bring premium wine, at approachable prices, in simple packaging, which is more practical than glass bottles and corks. The future is cans.
"Canned wine is the fastest-growing segment of the wine industry, taking the path of the craft beer business.
"Five years ago, less than 6% of craft beers were sold in cans, if you can even imagine. Today, cans represent more than 25% of craft beer sales, and this is growing.
Growth in cans
Benefits of cans (WineSociety)
Save energy: Reusing recycled metals saves as much as 95% of the energy needed to make cans from virgin ores.
Recyclable: Beverage cans are recyclable.
Permanent material: The material in cans is only used, not consumed.
Quickly chilled: Beverage cans chill quickly and feel fresh to the touch.
Unbreakable: Ideal for large events.
Material thickness: The sides of the cans are 0.065mm thick.
Light-proof: Beverage cans are light-proof, protecting light-sensitive beverages.
Stackable: The flat ends and characteristic shape of beverage cans means a truck can transport twice as much.
Hermetic seal: Airtight cans keep oxygen out and fizz in.
Lightweight: Great for refreshments on-the-go.
Fresh: The sound of a can opening indicates the drink is fresh.
The Allisons’ set up WineSociety after selling their tech startup Dotloop to Zillow Group for $108m. Dotloop was set up in 2009 to provide software to all parties in a real estate transaction to share and revise documents in real time in what they call a ‘loop’.
"There are many similarities to the traditional wine industry and the real estate industry before we started Dotloop," added Austin.
"The most pronounced similarity is a new generation of consumers who have different needs and expectations from an industry that hasn't evolved much over the last couple of decades."WineSociety will sell California wine made in the Napa Valley in 500ml cans (a case of nine is $129). The portfolio will include; Tempt (Red), Fate (White Blend), and Chance (Rose Blend).
“The growth is happening in cans and to provide a parallel example, less than 6% of craft beer sales were in cans five years ago. In five years, now more than 25% of craft beer sales are in cans and it’s still growing. We are at the beginning of a similar movement in the wine industry.”
Mancan wine-in-a-can company has also announced the launch of its Rosé blend in a can across the US, joining its portfolio of Red, White, and Fizz (the company’s semi-sparkling wine).
Each can of Rosé features an illustration of the historic Ohio City Firehouse, where the company is headquartered, and the brand’s mascot Gracey the dog.
“Since we launched in the fall of 2015, we have heard from our customers that an awesome Rosé with universal drinkability was something they wanted,” said Graham Veysey, co-founder, Mancan.
“In the spirit of taking the chore out of drinking wine, we were intentional in keeping it simple and think our Rosé blend fits with that convenient approach.”
Mancan Wine was founded in 2015 by childhood friends Veysey and Fisk Biggar.